Mojo expanding to take over old Roadhouse Grill location

Mojo's workers load the Tango Charcoal grill onto a trailer as they continue to move some of the equipment out of the old Tango Argentinian Steakhouse in Ocala on Tuesday. Mojo's, the popular local restaurant, will open another restaurant there very soon.

Last Modified: Tuesday, June 18, 2013 at 12:28 p.m.

Mojo's workers load the Tango Charcoal grill onto a trailer as they continue to move some of the equipment out of the old Tango Argentinian Steakhouse in Ocala on Tuesday. Mojo's, the popular local restaurant, will open another restaurant there very soon.

Alan Youngblood/Star-Banner

Ron "Rondo" Fernandez announced early Tuesday that his Mojo Grill & Catering Company had taken over the Tango Argentinian Steakhouse at 2015 SW 17th St. and will convert it into the flagship site for the Mojo Grill franchise effort he has been pursuing since October.

He said he is hoping to open the facility, which has operated under a number of names since Roadhouse closed about five years ago, in early July, right around the fourth anniversary of Mojo's original opening in downtown Ocala.

Fernandez plans to keep his current site in the Pine Avenue Plaza but will switch it to a "sister concept. We love this location," he said Tuesday, adding that he is considering "an authentic Cuban or an authentic Memphis barbecue" for the popular dining spot.

Tango, which opened Easter weekend, closed Saturday. Tango's staff of about 25 workers has been absorbed into Fernandez's operation — "So nobody lost a job," he said.

"It really hits home when you see how many people's lives you're touching," he added.

Even Jason Familia, who opened Tango in March, is being kept on.

"We told Jason to take a couple weeks' vacation and come back revitalized," Fernandez said. "He has a lot of passion. Maybe we can spin him off into his own place later."

"It's a good thing to be employed, sure," said Richard Oaks, who was the kitchen manager at Tango and now wears a Mojo T-shirt in Fernandez's kitchen. "We think it's fabulous; there's nothing but opportunity for us and the community to benefit."

Fernandez's staff began the switchover Monday. Fernandez said he plans to expand his dinner menu in the new facility.

"We're adding a raw bar menu, New Orleans-style grilled oysters, maybe a steak. The menu's still in the works," he said.

After realizing that his Pine Avenue Plaza location was running out of room, Fernandez said he has been looking around Ocala for a larger location and has had his eye on the Tango site for some time.

"We're not going to run out of room there," he said.

"This is our part of town. We're close enough to downtown so we don't alienate them, but we're closer to (State Road) 200 now too. I'm excited about the new facility, but I'm even more excited for my staff," he added.

The venue was built in 1995, and the Roadhouse Grill chain enjoyed a nearly 15-year tenure there. Los Pinos Tex-Mex lasted about a month there in 2009; Latinos Y Mas settled in for several months in 2010 while its eatery on Pine Avenue was rebuilt from the foundation up. The last occupant of the building before Tango was Barbizon's Sports Bar & Grill, which also closed after a brief run.

Reaction to the news about Mojo's move was swift and positive. By mid-morning, a Mojo Grill Facebook announcement had collected more than 165 comments and nearly 1,200 likes.

"Congratulations," wrote Jim Wulff. "Now I can tell our friends in The Villages. We wanted to keep you a secret so we could still get a seat."

"My husband, Tony Oswell, used to work for Roadhouse Grill (12 years), and that is one of his favorite buildings for a restaurant," said Renee Oswell. "Good luck, and I think you will fit the spot perfectly."

<p>The flirtation of the Argentine Tango evidently over, the main Mojo is moving into the old Roadhouse Grill facility on Southwest 17th Street near Target.</p><p>Ron "Rondo" Fernandez announced early Tuesday that his Mojo Grill & Catering Company had taken over the Tango Argentinian Steakhouse at 2015 SW 17th St. and will convert it into the flagship site for the Mojo Grill franchise effort he has been pursuing since October.</p><p>He said he is hoping to open the facility, which has operated under a number of names since Roadhouse closed about five years ago, in early July, right around the fourth anniversary of Mojo's original opening in downtown Ocala.</p><p>Fernandez plans to keep his current site in the Pine Avenue Plaza but will switch it to a "sister concept. We love this location," he said Tuesday, adding that he is considering "an authentic Cuban or an authentic Memphis barbecue" for the popular dining spot.</p><p>Tango, which opened Easter weekend, closed Saturday. Tango's staff of about 25 workers has been absorbed into Fernandez's operation — "So nobody lost a job," he said.</p><p>"It really hits home when you see how many people's lives you're touching," he added.</p><p>Even Jason Familia, who opened Tango in March, is being kept on.</p><p>"We told Jason to take a couple weeks' vacation and come back revitalized," Fernandez said. "He has a lot of passion. Maybe we can spin him off into his own place later."</p><p>"It's a good thing to be employed, sure," said Richard Oaks, who was the kitchen manager at Tango and now wears a Mojo T-shirt in Fernandez's kitchen. "We think it's fabulous; there's nothing but opportunity for us and the community to benefit."</p><p>Fernandez's staff began the switchover Monday. Fernandez said he plans to expand his dinner menu in the new facility.</p><p>"We're adding a raw bar menu, New Orleans-style grilled oysters, maybe a steak. The menu's still in the works," he said.</p><p>After realizing that his Pine Avenue Plaza location was running out of room, Fernandez said he has been looking around Ocala for a larger location and has had his eye on the Tango site for some time.</p><p>"We're not going to run out of room there," he said.</p><p>"This is our part of town. We're close enough to downtown so we don't alienate them, but we're closer to (State Road) 200 now too. I'm excited about the new facility, but I'm even more excited for my staff," he added.</p><p>The venue was built in 1995, and the Roadhouse Grill chain enjoyed a nearly 15-year tenure there. Los Pinos Tex-Mex lasted about a month there in 2009; Latinos Y Mas settled in for several months in 2010 while its eatery on Pine Avenue was rebuilt from the foundation up. The last occupant of the building before Tango was Barbizon's Sports Bar & Grill, which also closed after a brief run.</p><p>Reaction to the news about Mojo's move was swift and positive. By mid-morning, a Mojo Grill Facebook announcement had collected more than 165 comments and nearly 1,200 likes.</p><p>"Congratulations," wrote Jim Wulff. "Now I can tell our friends in The Villages. We wanted to keep you a secret so we could still get a seat."</p><p>"My husband, Tony Oswell, used to work for Roadhouse Grill (12 years), and that is one of his favorite buildings for a restaurant," said Renee Oswell. "Good luck, and I think you will fit the spot perfectly."</p><p><i>Contact Rick Allen at rick.allen@starbanner.com or 867-4154.</i></p>